Electrolytic apparatus.



N0. 653,538. Patented July 10,. I900.

N. L. TURNER.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

(Application flledjune 7, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

N VE N 70/? A 7TORNEYS m5 uonms PEYERS co, pnm'oumo. msuwcmm n c No. 653,533. Patented July 10, I900.

N. L. TURNER.

ELEBTRDLYTIB APPARATUS.

(Application filed Juno 7, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Shoat 2,

(No Model.)

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL LEWIS TURNER, OF SALMON CITY, IDAHO.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,538, dated July I0, 1900.

Application filed June 7, 1899. Serial No. 719 ,661.' (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL LEWIS TURNER, of Salmon City, in the county of Lemhi and State of Idaho, have invented a new and Improved Electrolytical Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to electrolytical apparatus for separating gold, silver, and other metals in solution, in prepared pulp, slimes, &c.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrolytical apparatus which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and arranged to permit of readily examining the deposits during the operation to insure a complete separation of the metal from the accompanying ingredients of the pulp or slime.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the improvement on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ring-anode.

The improved apparatus is provided with a tank A, preferably made circular in shape and arranged to contain the pulp, slime, or other metal-containing solution to be treated. In the tank A is arranged one or a number of mullers B, adapted to agitate the solution while precipitation is going on, as hereinafter more fully described. Each of the mullers B is held on the lower square end 0 of a shaft 0, journaled in suitable overhead framework and also set at its lower end in a'step G attached to the top of a center B, forming part of the muller B, and secured to the bottom of the tank A. One of the shafts O is a driv ing-shaft for the other shafts, and this driv ing-shaft is connected by pulleys D and belts D with the other shafts, so that all are ro tated in unison when a rotary motion is given to the driving-shaft O by means of a pulley E and belt driven from other machinery. A carrier 1?, supporting the anodes and cathodes and forming a cover for the tank A, is U hung on suitable hoisting devices G, which permit of raising or lowering said carrier to move the anodes and cathodes out of the solution or into the same, as the case may be.

The cathodes H and anodes I are arranged in groups around a muller B, each cathode H being in the form of a piece of sheet-lead or sheet-copper removably attached to a frame H, the upper end of which extends through a corresponding opening inthe cover F, the connection between the cathode H and the contacting wire H being made by bending the upper end H of the sheet-metal cathode over upon the wire, aswill be readily understood by reference to the drawings. The several wires H for the cathodes on the carrier are preferably ring-shaped and connected with each other at intervals by branch wires H and the outermost wire H is connected with a wired, leading to a battery or other suitable source of electricity-supply. Now by the arrangement described an operator is enabled to readily take hold of a frame H and lift-the same upward out of the cover F, to permit of examining the cathode as to the deposit thereon, so as to enable the operatorto test the progress of the precipitation. While this is going on, a new frame H, having a cathode thereon, can be inserted in place of the one removed and the operation continued with hardly any interruption. The anodes I are preferably made in the shape of rings of sheet-iron, preferably inclosed in canvas to prevent back current, or of copper if desired; but in case both anode and cathode are made of copper, then the cathode-is inclosed in canvas. I have found by practical trial that the use of this canvas cover is of material assistance in preventing or counteracting back current or polarization; but I am unable to explain the particular reaction or mode of operation to which this result is due. Each ring-shaped anode I is held on an arm I, secured at its upper end in the cover F and depending therefrom, with buttons I I near the upper and lower end of the arm to permit of conveniently supporting the anode and to allow of readily removing the same when desired by the operator simply opening the buttons, as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings. The several anodes I are connected with each other at intervals by branch wires 1 and the outermost anode I is connected by a wire J with a battery or other source of electricity-supply. (See Fig. 2.

Each muller B is provided with a skeleton hub B fitted loosely around the center B, and on the lower end of the said hub B is secured a ring-shaped base B provided with radial agitating-cleats B at the under side, the bases of the cleats being in close proximity to the bottom of the tank, so as to thoroughly stir up or agitate the contents of the solution,especiall y that portion tending to readily settle in the bottom of the tank. The top portion B of the hub B is formed with a square opening engaged by the square end C of the shaft 0, as previously mentioned, so that when the shaft is rotated a rotary motion is given to the skeleton hub and the base B to rotate the same around the fixed center B. By fitting the hub B loosely around the center B and by making the said hub-skeleton rotate the solution is readily agitated in the tank,espceially in the lower portion there of, to insure a proper precipitation of the precious metal on the plates of the cathodes H. A pin C engages the shaft 0 directly above the part B of the muller B, and when the pin is removed at the time the carrier F is in a raised or uppermost position and with the cathodes and anodes withdrawn from the solution then the muller is free to slide upward on the shaft 0 to allow of making repairs and to examine the muller for other purposes.

In using the device the'so1ution--for instance, a solution of gold in cyanid of potassium-to be treated is placed in the tank, and when the carrier F is in a lowermost position the mullers are caused to agitate the material at the same time the current is turned on, so that while the dissolving of the solution is still proceeding precipitation is going on.

By having a large number of anodes and opposite cathodes arranged around the several mullers it is evident that a very quick precipitation takes place, so that all the gold, silver, or other metal is quickly deposited on the plates of the cathodes.

When it appears that the proper amount of metal has been deposited, by making a test, as previously explained, the carrier F is raised with the cathodes and anodes thereon and the cathodes are readily removed from the carrier, to be then further treated for obtaining the metal deposited on the plates of the cathodes.

The device is very simple and durable in construction, is not liable to get out of order, and enables the operator to insure a thorough precipitation of the metal.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An electrolytical apparatus, comprising a tank, a carrier provided with depending arms, an electrode supported by said arms, turn-buttons secured to the arms and adapted to hold the electrode thereon, and an electrode of opposite polarity to the one first mentioncd.

2. An electrolytical apparatus, comprising a tank, rotary agitators located therein ecccntrically, a series of electrodes whose main portion is concentric with the tank while the portions adjacent to the agitators are curved concentrically with the axes of said agitators, and electrodes of opposite polarity to those first named.

NATHANIEL LEWIS TURNER.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. IIOSTER, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

